History of computer simulation software: An initial perspective

Abstract

The evolution of computer simulation software until the mid-1980's is subsumed by descriptions of the history of simulation programming languages. Since that time, the entire complexion of simulation model design, development, execution, and sustainment has undergone a radical transition. The transition to a large degree stems from technology advances in hardware and software coupled with the increasing expectations of simulation modelers and end users. This study, covering the evolution in its entirety, represents an initial perspective on the transition based on an examination and analysis of the Winter Simulation Conference Archive and a partial set of simulation software surveys published in OR/MS Today. The results characterize the modeling and simulation software evolution since the mid-1980's in terms of newcomers, endurers, fads, fades, trends, and trajectories. Prominent among the conclusions are that commercial firms are driving the major advances and the marketplace is quite volatile.